It is Spring! And it is likely that your yard is harboring an abundance of those cheery, little weeds known as dandelions (Taraxacum officinale). Rather than let this prolific plant go to waste every year, I attempt to utilize them in some way. I have dried and preserved the roots and leaves for medicinal uses, and eaten the fresh greens as a food source. This year, however, I thought I would try my hand at making a special treat using the flowers: Dandelion Soda. I started with a recipe I had found in a book years ago, called Dandelion Fizz. Problem was, it wasn't really all that fizzy. Still a good tasting drink, but it needed some work. This year, I worked on modifying the recipe, and I came up with a good tasting drink that fizzes just like soda. Dandelion Soda 2 Cups tightly packed dandelion flowers (gathered from a pesticide/herbicide free area) 4 Cups boiling water 2 Cups sugar or 1 1/3 Cups honey 2 lemons, j...
From deodorant and ketchup, to raising chickens and composting.